How To Get Things Done

One of the best tools that I know of to combat procrastination is what I call the 15 Minute Rule.

Simply put, the rule states that if there is something that I’ve been procrastinating about, whether it’s doing housework, working on a website, or getting my daily writing done, I only have to do it for 15 minutes. Then, no matter what the state of what I’ve been working on, I can stop if I want to.

I’m using it right now to write this article.

Why I Use It

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you know that in the past I’ve had trouble with consistency in writing and publishing original posts. There was a lot of self doubt, fear, and judgment surrounding my writing, regarding both my own skill and the subject matter that I choose to write about. People could tell me ’til they were blue in my face that they enjoyed it, that they thought I was doing something useful, but it wouldn’t matter. To me, their opinions either meant that were just trying to be kind, or they weren’t smart enough to see just how bad at it I really am.

Making a Commitment

As I was driving to work today, I made a commitment to myself to take the plunge and recognize my blogging and publishing as a business venture. The internet is a beautiful thing, and the ability it gives people to share information really gets me excited. There is nothing I like better than discovering a new piece of information and sharing it with others on my blogs. I don’t think I’ve ever been much clearer about exactly what I want to do with my days than today.

So I walk into work…

No, I didn’t quit my job. But as I was headed to the time clock, the ops manager stopped me and let me know that they were cutting people loose for the day because they were over on hours. He asked if I wanted to take the day off. He knows about my wife’s health problems, and he asked about that as well, if I’d like to be home with her.

Win-Win. They needed to cut hours, and I got to spend the day here at home with my wife, and see just what how strong my commitment is to making my blogs more than just a hobby.

I get home, snuggle a bit with the wife, and talk to her about what I’ve been thinking…

She is, of course, 100% behind me (as long as the bills keep getting paid!).

So I tell her I’m off to work, go into the kitchen, and fire up the computer.

I make my list of things to do, and start working it.

• The Personal Development Carnival is edited and published… check
• Edited and Published a newly contributed article to Success Articles… check
• Connected with a new contributor… check
• Write an original post for Creating a Better Life…

{pause}

Uh-Oh

Well, it is twelve o clock, and I’m feeling a little shaky… maybe I better get some lunch.

I’ll make myself a sandwich. That’ll only take a few minutes, and I’ll eat it while I’m writing.

Make the sandwich.

{pause}

Well, maybe I should just sit down and eat it. I really should spend some time with my wife. OK, just a few more minutes. I’ll hang out with her while I eat, then I’m going to write.

So I go into the bedroom with her, and hop into bed next to her with my bologna and water…

Hey, she’s just starting to watch the new Law and Order episode on the DVR. Looks pretty good… Oh man, it’s based on the death of Anna Nichole Smith’s son, what are they going to do with this one…

{pause}

It’s just an hour… less actually, since we can skip the commercials. Nothing wrong with watching it with her.

{an hour long pause}

It was a good show.

“OK, hon, I’ve gotta get back to work. Gotta do some writing…”

Back to the computer.

{pause}

Well, let me just check my email first…

Do we see a pattern here?

This is when the 15 minute rule comes into play. I really enjoy writing, but the hardest part of it is getting started. My brain tends to bring up all of those doubts and fears than I mentioned earlier, and I get frozen in front of the blank page.

There is nothing wrong with any of the things that I did. We all need food, love, and recreation. Except that I wasn’t doing any of those things for the food, the love, or the recreation. I was doing them to avoid a commitment I’d made to myself.

So I tell myself “Just write for 15 minutes. Then, if you don’t want to do it anymore, you can stop. No questions asked.”

In my first draft of this post, the end of the above sentence was right at the 15 minute mark. I couldn’t have planned it better. And now, after working on it for a little more, it’s 30 minutes later.

Third draft: one hour and thirteen minutes.

Looks like it’s working.

Remember It’s OK To Stop

It’s important to keep in mind that it’s OK to stop after the 15 minutes is up if you want to. Otherwise, you are just lying to yourself. Whatever you’ve gotten done in that 15 minutes is more than you would have done without getting started.

This usually kicks in for me when I’m doing something I really don’t want to be doing, like the housework.

If cleanliness is next to Godliness, you might as well call me Lucifer.

But doing 15 minutes of focused cleaning is better than no cleaning at all. And you would be amazed at what can be done to a one bedroom apartment in that short amount of time.

I think it’s time to publish this!

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